Even though I was born here, I cannot remember having been called a Punekar. I travelled consistently for my education. Yes, Pune has changed, and I can mark that change by going back to the period related to my tour of foreign countries. As I travelled and spent long periods in Africa, England and Canada, I was always perceptive to changes taking place in Pune. I don’t have the right to decide change. Change shows the evolution process which is the only constant and is fundamental to life. We cannot deny the fact by saying it is immature or bad. As humans change, so does the environment around them. Change in one field influences others.

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I have no complaints about changes that have come about in literature, films and even in the audience and readers. When I was young, I knew the temples in Pune and had some faith in rituals.

Today’s generation believes in science rather than rituals. Though Pune is a city of culture, its image can change and nothing is unnatural about that. During our times, cinema depended on the story. Now we have readers who are changing, the audience is no longer the same. So, film-makers are changing their perspectives and actors are changing their styles. This is obvious and natural.

So the changing scenario of Pune is neither good nor bad. It is the mentality of the people while accepting such changes that is important.

— Shreeram Lagoo is a veteran film & theatre personality